Gyan, B.A.Goka, B.Cvetkovic, J.T.Kurtzhals, J.L.Adabayeri, V.Perlmann, H.Lefvert, A.-K.Akanmori, B.D.Troye-Blomberg, M.2019-03-152019-03-152004-10https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02590.xVol. 138(1): pp 145-50 ·http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/28643Immunoglobulin E has been associated with severe malaria suggesting a regulatory role for interleukin (IL)-4 and/or IgE in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. We have investigated possible associations between polymorphisms in the IL-4 repeat region (intron 3) and promoter regions (IL-4 +33CT and -590CT) in Ghanaian children with severe malaria. There was a significantly higher frequency of IL-4 intron-3 B1B1 genotype in the cerebral malaria group [P < 0-0001, odds ratio (OR) = 8-7]. The genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-4 -590 and +33 polymorphisms did not differ between the four study groups. Carriers of IL-4 +33T/-590T with cerebral malaria had elevated total IgE compared to non-carriers (P = 0.03). Our data suggest that IL-4 and/or IgE play a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of severe or complicated malaria.enFalciparumIgEIL-4 polymorphismPathogenesisPlasmodiumSevere malariaArticle